Arizona is familiar with cases of drug addiction and overdose, as well as property crimes and human trafficking across the southern border. 

Recently, Gov. Doug Ducey has focused on the state’s progress via the Arizona Border Strike Force. Created in September 2015, the Arizona Border Strike Force has continued to protect local communities by preventing illegal trafficking of narcotics weapons, and ammunition in the state. 

Since 2015 until now, the Border Strike Force has yielded positive results. Among notable successes as of March this year include the seizure of over 58,200 pounds of marijuana, more than 8,200 prescription drugs and 4,400 pounds of methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, and fentanyl. 

In addition, the Border Strike Force have also seized 280 firearms and over 173,000 rounds of ammunition as well as making over 3,100 arrests and the release of at least 600 subjects to federal agencies. 

Operation Sidewinder II and III, under the Border Strike Force, led to the seizure of over 5,000 pounds of marijuana and 52 felony arrests. Operation Organ Grinder also resulted in the seizure of over 4,000 pounds of marijuana and 73 felony arrests. 

In a continuous effort to make Arizona a safer place -- which proved to be successful so far -- the state has invested $43 million in the Border Strike Force. The addition of $2.9 million in fiscal 2019 will expand enforcement operations in Cochise, Graham, Greenlee, La Paz, Pima, Pinal, Santa Cruz and Yuma counties.